Morning briefing: December 25

The polar bear wounded by the firecracker is probably alive; Americans noted that Russia is building up its military potential - and other topics discussed during these hours.

In the photo: decoration of the country's main Christmas tree on Cathedral Square in the Kremlin (Kommersant).

Russia's military potential

“Russia has bolstered its military and asserted itself on the world stage with a vigor not seen since the Cold War, exacerbating tensions with the West,” The New York Times noted.

The publication states that in recent years the Russian Federation has increased military spending, compensating for the lack of funding, and also regularly conducts exercises with the participation of thousands of soldiers and officers. Such maneuvers, according to the Americans, “serve as training for fighters and demonstrate strength to the world.”

"Proton-M" and "Express-AMU1"

The Proton-M rocket, launched at night from Baikonur, launched the Express-AMU1 communications satellite onto a suborbital flight path. The satellite is expected to serve Russia, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.

Bear and firecracker

Alexander Skripnik, an employee of the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve , told reporters that the polar bear wounded by a firecracker on Wrangel Island may not have died. The body of the animal, he said, was not found.

“When our employees went to the scene, the bear was already just standing there. Naturally he received a traumatic shock. He was driven deeper into the island. But the next day, and subsequently every day, they looked, there were indeed traces, but not bloody, he went deeper into the island.”

He also denied that an explosive package was thrown at the bear.

The incident became known the day before - the Ministry of Natural Resources appealed to the Prosecutor General’s Office with a request to conduct an investigation and called the incident “a cold-blooded murder of a polar bear listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and protected by international treaties.”

Cheap oil

Bashneft President Alexander Korsik said that the company included an oil price of $50 per barrel in the 2016 budget. Earlier on December 21, the Brent price dropped to an 11-year low of $36.14.

Downey Jr. pardon

California Governor Jerry Brown pardoned Hollywood actor Robert Downey Jr. in honor of Christmas, who served a prison sentence on drug charges 16 years ago. The official noted that the actor, after his release, “lives an honest life, showing good moral character, and behaves like a law-abiding citizen,” he “paid his debt to society and earned a full and unconditional pardon.”

What will happen today

In Catholic countries today they celebrate Christmas. And this night was the last so-called “cold” full moon of the year - and the previous time such a coincidence happened only in 1977.

Instagram block is not available

Also scheduled for December 25 is a press conference by the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, Vitaly Mutko, dedicated to the results of the outgoing year and plans for 2016.